Reports on a pilot study which sought to find out what 4- to 8-year-old rural Australian Aboriginal children think about night and day. Findings indicate more variations in thinking than were found in earlier research. Raises questions about the framing of cross-cultural research and the realization of indigenous data. Contains 40 references.…

Explores student performance in chemistry examinations on items that require higher-order cognitive skills (HOCS) or lower-order cognitive skills (LOCS). Findings indicate that students performed considerably lower on questions requiring HOCS than on those requiring LOCS. Performance on questions requiring HOCS may not correlate with that on…

Investigates students' (N=277) performance and the effects of pre-training on tasks rated high in ambiguity, in particular those where the solution to the tasks cannot be arrived at through predictable algorithms. Findings show pre-training to be a significant factor in improving students' ability to plan and carry out open-ended investigations.…

Investigates student teachers' understanding of science and their ability to learn what was needed when it was required for teaching purposes. Findings indicate that half the students were able to prepare themselves adequately through independent research with guidance although their initial background knowledge of science was weak. Discusses…

Examines both theoretical and practical perspectives on conceptual exchange--exchanging a student's entrenched view on a scientific topic for one based on actual scientific perspective. Endorses the conceptual-mediation model based on interference theory for changing an established view. (AIM)

Describes various tools, materials, and experiences used to facilitate critical reflection in teaching prospective science teachers. Tools discussed include portfolios, journals, learning maps, the use of metaphors, and proverbs. Such tool use may provide support to generate science-education reform. (AIM)

Reports on a study done at Oxford University on why young people chose to pursue a career in the physical sciences and engineering. Characteristics of schools that appeared to influence students to pursue a study of science were also investigated. Currently, England, Australia, Canada, China, Japan, and Portugal have contributed information to…

Based on key word counts from summaries in the ERIC database and article analysis of the 1975, 1985, and 1995 volumes of Research in Science Education, certain trends appear in the style of research in science education. Trends include the move from brief, controlled, laboratory-style experiments to lengthy observations and descriptions of…

Discusses the effect of collaboration via e-mail links on the quality of 10- to 11-year-old students' science investigative skills in six elementary rural schools. The project identified several important issues related to teacher-inservice training requirements, development in cooperative groupwork for children, and software design. (AIM)

Discusses an alternate path to teaching introductory stoichiometry based on research findings. The recommendation is to use problems that can be solved easily by rapid mental calculation as well as by pure logic. (AIM)

Investigates the role and importance of peers in providing personal and academic support for Year 11 female students enrolled in physics and biology courses. Results indicate that while the supportive role provided by peers is similar regardless of the science subject undertaken by female students, this role may vary between schools. (AIM)

Investigates the impact an undergraduate quantum chemistry course has on students' knowledge and understanding of atomic orbitals, molecular orbitals, and related concepts. Analysis reveals that students do not have a clear understanding of these concepts and confuse the various atomic orbital representations. Includes some suggestions and…

Contrasts naive beliefs about the nature of science with science as it appears from sociological and philosophical study, feminist critique, and insights from multicultural education. Pragmatic school science is situated within a framework that questions how we know and the recognition that even high-status knowledge can be challenged. (AIM)

Addresses the implementation and evaluation of a constructivist course and extends the argument toward the induction of teachers into critical constructivism through their own action-research projects. Data is taken from a single case study illustrating the changes in the professional life and reflective practice of one teacher in Brazil. (AIM)

A study of Dutch universities from 1974-93 examined factors in the emergence of new academic programs and specializations, particularly the effects of government funding mechanisms (external factor) and level of paradigmatic development (internal factor), drawing on social exchange and resource dependency theory. Results indicate these two factors…